Zack Sanchez Status for Tennessee

NORMAN – It sounds like Zack Sanchez, the starting cornerback who was knocked out of Oklahoma’s 52-7 victory over Tulsa Saturday, is going to be all right in time to face Tennessee this weekend.

“Zack is expected to practice and be fine for the game,” OU coach Bob Stoops said during his Big 12 teleconference appearance Monday morning.

Sanchez absorbed a blow to his right shoulder/upper arm when he converged to tackle Tulsa wide receiver Keevan Lucas in Saturday’s second quarter. Lucas caught Sanchez with the crown of his helmet and the cornerback went down in obvious pain.

Sanchez spent the second half of the game with his arm in a sling, prompting concern he might miss upcoming action against Tennessee and/or West Virginia Sept. 20.

The Sooners need Sanchez, given his four interceptions over his last five games, and given the hot starts enjoyed by quarterbacks Justin Worley and Clint Trickett of the Vols and Mountaineers, respectively. Trickett has passed for 713 yards, seventh among FBS quarterbacks, over his first two games.